Her effort was commendable, as a young woman taking her on 'alone'. Everything about 'little Ms Kingsley' had something she could have reviewed. Given a lecture, did modern teachers still use slides? There was so much to her, just from the different scents. She'd frequented hotels as a 'soldier' herself, bounced from country to country with the backing of a superpower, and all those accumulating scents created a wholly globally unique person, Paige could smell it.
They could have talked, laughed, anything. She'd way more in common with her than the tweeny boppers that surround her kid.
But…
Revenge didn't pass the heart easy, most especially for a Kingsley. It was like falling in love. Immense enough to overwhelm all action or thought. It gave purpose, focused the heart. But it could be clouded, deterred, and turned away.
Even if one could do that, it could never be removed from the soul, lingering forever, and as with love, unless fully embraced, it'd hold a piece of her soul.
When Vanessa came to, she found Paige over her. Before she could twitch there was a hand on her neck.
"[Remember this?]" Paige said rubbing her own unblemished neck, ruining what she was trying to do.
Paige's hand turned bright red as she squeezed, slowly bruises formed, blisters followed.
Vanessa didn't have enough in her to scream.
Paige's lips came to Vanessa's ear. "[A couple questions, Vanessa Kingsley.]"
Important ones.
"[Who was the man who attacked me last night?]" Paige stared, boring into hers with grim determination.
Vanessa swallowed hard and managed a shrug.
Paige nodded, "[Okay, fine tell me about the uniforms. I ain't never seen 'em. Who do they belong to? The Chinese? They finally finish 'organising'? I can't imagine unity there… Can't be any of the blood cults, the xeno cults, houses or militias, because you wouldn't be THAT stupid. So… Ya father? Are daddy's precious Eagles trying to kill me? Again?]"
==================================================
Blood still crackling on her fingers, Paige turns predator and playmate—offering mercy wrapped in fire. But just as the ash settles, a hand from nowhere takes her breath. Powerless. Trapped. "She'd been demoted to a petite seventeen-year-old by a giant using pure brute strength." Something older, meaner is hunting now—and it knows her name.